Green Lanterns #43 Review: A Shaky Ending to an Underwhelming Arc

The Green Lanterns are locked in battle with the Order of the Steed in the Horsehead Nebula. Jessica is trying to free Earth's heroes from the control of the Order, Simon Baz is fending off their Durlan enforcers, and Scrapps is fighting their leader, currently in the body of Night Pilot.

Green Lanterns #43 cover by Will Conrad and Ivan Nunes

"Superhuman Trafficking" has ultimately been on the side of underwhelming. I had high hopes for what this book could do with the idea, but it has turned out to be mostly jokes about dating apps and some admittedly interesting observation of organized religions.

That's not to say the story has been outright bad, and Green Lanterns #43 is an okay issue.

The comic does undercut itself at a lot of moments. The tension is well-maintained. However, that's hindered by the action not being visually interesting, and you must stretch your imagination as to what the human mind is capable of to believe Jessica can accomplish the operation she is trying to perform. Jessica and Simon have some decent banter, but even that's kneecapped by the growing "will-they-won't-they" subplot this book never needed.

The ending is a culmination of that latter nonsense, and it would leave you with as sour taste if the final panel wasn't a mixture of unnerving and enticing for what the next story could be.

V. Ken Marion brings a slightly over-detailed but still generally good-looking art to the table. It has some of that grit of the mid-2000's, but it's high energy and fits the Green Lanterns more often than it doesn't. Sandu Florea's inkwork is mostly quite good, but it could have helped clean up the line work more than it does. Dinei Ribeiro's colorwork is solidly good, giving this book the bright flare that it deserves.

Green Lanterns #43 is a bit of a letdown, but it's not an awful read. It has its moments of fun and humor. The artwork is flawed but solid. The drawbacks keep me from being able to wholeheartedly recommend this comic, but, if you're into this series and its leads, then I can recommend it. It's not a must-buy, but you don't have to stay away.

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Josh is a longtime super hero comic fan and an aspiring comic book and fiction writer himself. He also trades in videogames, Star Wars, and Magic: The Gathering, and he is also a budding film buff. He's always been a huge nerd, and he hopes to contribute something of worth to the wider geek culture conversation. He is also happy to announce that he is the new Reviews Editor for Bleeding Cool. Follow on Twitter @joshdavisonbolt.